Discover San Antonio’s Mission Trail
March 18, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
The chain of five missions that were established along the San Antonio River during the 18th century stands as a reminder of Spain’s most successful attempt to extend its New World influence and control. Representing both church and state, these missions were charged with converting the local Native Americans, collectively called Coahuiltecans, into devout Catholics [...]
Farmers Market in Downtown McAllen
March 10, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Tucked away in McAllen’s downtown entertainment district, The Market at Alhambra is a new concept in farmers markets. On a recent Saturday, we decided to check it out. It happens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday with Alhambra, the Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge at 519 S. 17th Street as host. A group [...]
Rio South Texas: Nature’s Wonders
February 29, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
The Rio Grande Valley nature scene is filled with many wildlife hot spots. We’ll continue our tour of the top nature hot spots in the Rio Grande Valley with a visit to the World Birding Center. The World Birding Center (WBC) The World Birding Center (WBC) is a network of nine unique birding sites in [...]
San Antonio River Walk: Jewel of the City
February 12, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 3 Comments
San Antonio is best known for being the Home of the Alamo and the San Antonio River, the center points of numerous activities in the downtown area. The river actually has its headwaters in northern San Antonio and travels southward through the city. The Alamo is part of a chain of five Spanish missions that [...]
Tip of Texas
December 29, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
The Lower Rio Grande Valley rolls out the red carpet for snowbirds. This is Shangri-la, a subtropical paradise, where the average annual T-shirt and shorts temperature is 74 degrees with an average rainfall of only 23.2 inches. This area of extreme deep-south Texas is actually more of a delta than a valley. There are no [...]
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
December 21, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 3 Comments
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas countdown has begun! While the holidays bring with it lots of love, time spent with family and friends, good food, and more, it can also bring stress—most from the gift exchange. Trying to find the perfect gift for someone can get frustrating. But if you’re still looking [...]
Hairy, Crazy Ants Are On the Move
November 5, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Do you hate fire ants? Well, the good news is that fire ants have practically been wiped out in parts of America. The bad news is they were wiped out by something much, much worse: the crazy, hairy ants—and they’re on the move and no one’s really sure what to do about it. The flea-sized [...]
San Antonio: An Enchanting City
October 12, 2011 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Texas is big, beautiful, and diverse. It’s easy to think of Texas as a whole country—800 miles wide and nearly that far from north to south. The state encompasses sunny seacoast to mile-high mountains, dense forests to cactus-studded desert, and great cities to small villages and towns. Texas is the only state that was once [...]
Texas Coastal Bend Readies for Winter Texans
September 25, 2011 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
With most of the U.S. and Canada ending their summer vacations as families get ready to head back to school many snowbirds have started planning and gearing up for another winter in the U.S. Sunbelt. Warm weather hubs such as Ol’ Airy Zonie, Southern California, Florida, and Texas are top destinations for their predictable warm [...]
Island of Endless History: Galveston, TX
August 8, 2011 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
One of the oldest cities in Texas and a major port, Galveston sits on a barrier island two miles offshore, surrounded by 32 miles of sandy beaches, numerous attractions, and one of the largest and best-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the United States. Galveston Island has been occupied for thousands of years, serving as [...]
